Pro bono activities

Welcome to the Indiana University Maurer School of Law Access to Justice Program. AJP encourages law students and recent graduates to provide legal assistance to low-income individuals, both while in law school and after graduation.

The Maurer School of Law has adopted an aspirational goal for students of 60 hours of pro bono work during their three years of law school (20 hours per year). The school has adopted the ABA definition of pro bono, which includes law-related services without compensation of either income or academic credit. The class of 2016 contributed 25,976 hours during their three years in Bloomington, and the class of 2017 volunteered 19,171 hours.

Students participate in pro bono services because it is rewarding and it provides practical skills. "Volunteering and eventually serving in a leadership capacity for the Protective Order Project has provided invaluable skill development and experience," said Corttany Brooks, '19. "Not only are we assisting individuals with issues near to my heart; we are learning an extremely special set of skills that we can use to change others' lives. This instills in students a sense of responsibility to continue to give back throughout their careers, whether working in legal aid or a corporate firm."

AJP programs

The goal of AJP is to raise awareness of public interest opportunities and provide students with information regarding careers in the public interest sector. AJP organizes a full schedule of events to make achieving the aspirational goal for pro bono service feasible. Starting in the fall, AJP holds a Pro Bono Fair, at which community organizations come to the law school to educate students about and recruit students for volunteer positions. AJP also conducts ethics training for students beginning their pro bono service.

Recognizing lawyers and law students for pro bono work

Every year, AJP holds the annual Pro Bono Awards ceremony to recognize one outstanding student volunteer from each class and the graduating student who reported the most pro bono hours from his or her time at the law school; AJP additionally recognizes a member of the local community who demonstrates an outstanding commitment to pro bono. In 2017 the recipient of the community attorney award was Jamie Andree of Indiana Legal Services. This year's student honorees were Kyle Castillo, '17, Samantha Paul, '18, Tyler Piraino, '18, and Lauren D'Surney, '19. The Pro Bono Awards ceremony speaker was Abigail L. Kuzma, '81, of the Legal Services Corporation.

AJP encourages students to report their pro bono hours during the school year, as these numbers determine award winners.

2017-18 Pro Bono Fellows

Projects

Projects are another way for Indiana Law students to gain valuable practice experience with less of a time commitment than clinics, externships, and practicums. Projects are especially good opportunities for 1Ls because of their more limited scope and time commitment. Academic credit is not granted for participation in a project. For more information, visit the Projects page of the website.

Local pro bono opportunities

There are many pro bono opportunities available for law students in the Bloomington area.

Opportunities with professors

Many professors will also often need help from law school students. These opportunities will be listed on Symplicity. Please log into your Symplicity account and follow these instructions to access this listing.

Loan reduction programs

L-STAR Program

The Law Student Travel and Accommodations Reimbursement Program (L-STAR) is a national fundraising initiative that runs in conjunction with law school on-campus interviewing (OCI) programs. If a law student stays with family or friends instead of in a hotel during a callback interview, the interviewing law firm(s) agrees to donate $165 to that student's public interest funding organization. Many firms have also agreed to donate $35 for students who are able to forego transportation to and from the airport in the destination city.

By participating, law firms enjoy recognition for supporting public interest law at law schools across the country. Participating students can enjoy the fact that they are making it possible for their classmates to provide legal services to those most in need of the energy, dedication, and talent of law students. Each summer, L-STAR's member organizations fund over 120 law students working in volunteer and low-paying jobs with various non-profit and governmental agencies.

Fellowships

Equal Justice Works

The focus of Equal Justice Works is to fund entrepreneurial or “cutting edge” projects. The student is responsible for developing a project idea and finding a host organization.

Criteria for evaluating a project

The project must involve legal advocacy on behalf of disenfranchised individuals, groups, or issues not currently adequately represented by our legal system. It may involve direct service, outreach and education, or organizing direct service on any issue as long as the direct service is on behalf of an underserved population.

The project must add some new component to the services already provided by the host organization.

The project must address the legal needs of individuals or communities in the United States and its territories.

Preference will be given to projects that are designed to impact a large number of people and/or create programs that can be replicated in other communities and create lasting institutions or programs.

Criteria for evaluating a host organization

The organization MUST have been granted 501(c)(3) status by the Internal Revenue Service.

The organization’s commitment and ability to provide training, support, and supervision throughout the course of the fellowship.

How the project fits into the organization’s priorities.

The organization’s commitment and ability to provide health insurance and other standard employee benefits to the Fellow during the course of the fellowship.

Criteria for evaluating candidates

The candidate’s demonstrated or stated commitment to public interest law generally, and specifically to the community in which he or she is planning to work.

The candidate’s professional, volunteer and/or subject matter expertise indicating that he or she possesses the relevant skills to make the project a success.

The candidate’s commitment and ability to fulfill the two-year term required by the program

The candidate’s ability to bring a diverse perspective to his or her project and the legal profession

EJW Fellowships are designed to create NEW public interest legal positions and launch new public interest careers.

Equal Justice Works Americorps

Equal Justice Works Americorps works to improve access to justice by increasing the availability of pro bono legal services nationwide to low-income clients. Supported by an AmeriCorps grant from the Corporation for National and Community Service, the program is a postgraduate opportunity to address gaps in legal services through pro bono management and direct legal services.

During their 11-month fellowships, each Equal Justice Works AmeriCorps Legal Fellow recruits 100 volunteer law students and lawyers—and the amount of taxpayer dollars spent per client served is only $40. Equal Justice Works AmeriCorps Fellows work to narrow the justice gap in many areas, including health care, public benefits, affordable housing, lost wages, protection orders and education.

Organizational fellowships

A number of nonprofit organizations administer their own fellowships. The organization determines the salary, duration of the fellowship, and the scope of the fellow’s work within the organization. Candidates apply directly to the organization, and the organization usually chooses the fellow without outside assistance. The fellowship is basically a temporary job with the organization, typically designed for new law graduates or attorneys with little experience in the practice area. There is no expectation that the fellow will continue working with the organization when the fellowship ends. Indeed, unless a staff position opens or the organization is able to find additional funding to increase its staff, the fellow is unlikely to remain.

Organizations that usually offer fellowships

ACLU

Human Rights Watch

The Women’s Law and Public Policy Fellowship Program

Find many more in the Fellowship Corner of the PSLawNet website (www.pslawnet.org)

Government fellowships

The purpose of the Program is to attract to the Federal service outstanding men and women from a variety of academic disciplines and career paths who have a clear interest in, and commitment to, excellence in the leadership and management of public policies and programs.

Contact us

You may contact AJP at wedogood@indiana.edu. Please do not send us any confidential or personal information. AJP is not your lawyer, AJP does not represent anyone, and AJP cannot give you legal advice. If you are looking for free or low-cost legal representation, please visit Find a Legal Aid Provider.